Transition of a Western dream into an evidence of Guilt: The case of Mekap shoes in Turkey

Transition of a Western dream into an evidence of Guilt: The case of Mekap shoes in Turkey

OZTURAN, Emrah

Article:

This paper aims to document the case of Mekap-shoes in Turkey upon their social, political and economic testimonies, with a focus on artefacts-politics relationship in the core. Within a polarized society in terms of identity issues, and a partially closed economy with state-controlled import barriers, Mekap became the first company producing sneakers in Turkey in 1970's. With its stylish, affordable and durable models, suddenly it had gained an important market-share and popularity especially among youngsters and middle classes. But by mid-1980’s, the destiny of the shoes had been changed unexpectedly and unintentionally, in parallel to the economic and political shifts in the country; as Mekaps begun to be associated respectively with working class, left ideology and an armed movement, by the help of various actors, especially politicians and mass-media. First appeared in the market by rendering a western dream to middle classes, by time Mekaps turned into sacred terrorist shoes or resistance objects depending on the standpoint.

This paper aims to document the case of Mekap-shoes in Turkey upon their social, political and economic testimonies, with a focus on artefacts-politics relationship in the core. Within a polarized society in terms of identity issues, and a partially closed economy with state-controlled import barriers, Mekap became the first company producing sneakers in Turkey in 1970's. With its stylish, affordable and durable models, suddenly it had gained an important market-share and popularity especially among youngsters and middle classes. But by mid-1980’s, the destiny of the shoes had been changed unexpectedly and unintentionally, in parallel to the economic and political shifts in the country; as Mekaps begun to be associated respectively with working class, left ideology and an armed movement, by the help of various actors, especially politicians and mass-media. First appeared in the market by rendering a western dream to middle classes, by time Mekaps turned into sacred terrorist shoes or resistance objects depending on the standpoint.

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DOI: 10.5151/despro-icdhs2016-04_015

Referências bibliográficas

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Como citar:

OZTURAN, Emrah; "Transition of a Western dream into an evidence of Guilt: The case of Mekap shoes in Turkey", p-383-387. In: Wong, Wendy Siuyi; Kikuchi, Yuko & Lin, Tingyi (Eds.). <strong>Making Trans/National Contemporary Design History [=ICDHS 2016 – 10th Conference of the International Committee for Design History & Design Studies]</strong>. São Paulo: Blucher, 2016.
ISSN 23186968, DOI 10.5151/despro-icdhs2016-04_015